Unstable Wifi connection, but LAN is absolutely fine

nickfrancis · 16 Aug 2017

Hi
Have been trying to fix this problem myself for a while now but it has got unworkable and I just can't figure it out.

I have two computers in the house - desktop is connected to router (D-Link DIR-655) via Cat5e, laptop via wifi.

I work from home a lot and the laptop is my work computer - my office is next door to the router so it has one brick wall to go through but nothing significant.

My issue is that my laptop continually drops and reconnects the wifi. To the point where I can't even get a single web page to load. It's also utterly inconsistent - sometimes it stays up for a bit and other times (like this morning) it is just unworkable.

Also quite often it causes the wifi to entirely fail - phone shows no wifi network and runs on 4G and I have to reboot the router. Had to do this upward of 10 times yesterday.

I've troubleshooted, I've tried updating & rolling back drivers, I've tested cables between modem & router (have FTTC with PlusNet), I've contacted PlusNet who confirmed the problem was somewhere inside the house.

I don't have any spare routers with which to test if it is the router, but my desktop which is on LAN doesn't have any connectivity issues at all.

Also phones don't tend to have much issue with wifi unless at furthest corners of the house.

It's got to the point where working from home is getting unmanageable unless I work outside of my office and plug into the router, which is tricky cos I have the kids running around the house.

Can't move the router as rented house and landlady said no.

Completely run out of ideas but would love if anyone has any ideas or insight at all.

Thanks

Nick

swarfega · 16 Aug 2017

I don't know how well you know how wifi works but a lot of things can interfere with the wifi signal such as walls, metal in walls, electrical cabling inside the walls, microwaves and fridges can also cause interference.

How old is the modem and what wifi version is it? Such as G, N or AC.

nickfrancis · 16 Aug 2017

swarfega said:

I don't know how well you know how wifi works but a lot of things can interfere with the wifi signal such as walls, metal in walls, electrical cabling inside the walls, microwaves and fridges can also cause interference.

How old is the modem and what wifi version is it? Such as G, N or AC.

Thanks for the reply. I'm fairly tech savvy. There's nothing significant in the walls between me & the router, & it's on the other side of the house from the kitchen.

Router is approx. 7/8 years old and the wifi is G & N.

Edit: have checked router firmware & am on latest version. Have also run an SSID scanner and am on the best channel for interference (Channel 1)

swarfega · 16 Aug 2017

AC would have more power and you could consider getting a beam forming one. N is quite old now.

Home Network Admin | Wireless B vs G vs N vs AC | What Is The Difference?

Samuria · 16 Aug 2017

If your on plusnet you can get a brand new router for cost of the postage about £5 a router that old will struggle with modern encryption

swarfega · 16 Aug 2017

Thanks for the info Samuria, I'm not a plusnet user so wasn't aware of this offer. I would certainly consider doing this @nickfrancis.

nickfrancis · 16 Aug 2017

Thanks folks. I did get a newer one from Plusnet - they now use a rebadged BT HomeHub. Unfortunately it has several downsides - you can't change the DNS (currently use opendns) & you can't have a separate guest wifi - both of which I need as a youth worker because I have young people round who use the wifi. Don't want them accessing content they shouldn't and don't want them to have access to my own network and files etc.

Currently don't have the funds for a new router - saving up for a new tooth instead! Looks like I'm stuck with flaky wifi until then....

Samuria · 16 Aug 2017

Are yoy on fibre or dsl their latest router is ac not a home hub you can set opendns on your pc

nickfrancis · 16 Aug 2017

Samuria said:

Are yoy on fibre or dsl their latest router is ac not a home hub you can set opendns on your pc

I'm on FTTC. I can set OpenDNS on my PC, but that doesn't help when there's a bunch of people coming in using their own tablets/phones/laptops. It's one of the big criticisms I've seen of the new Plusnet router.